It Ends With a Text (Sequal to It Began With a Text)

How It Ended with Changbin

3 years ago:

     Changbin liked to think that if there was any justice in the world, tonight would have been a peaceful night. He would have sent Chan a watch party, they would both pretend they were shedding a tear by the end of Up, and then crack themselves up over the Settlers of Catan shenanigans. If there was any justice, this feeling would last.

     He knew better than anyone not to blindly believe in justice. Maybe that was why he hadn't been surprised when the next text message he got wasn't from Chan.

     Unknown.

     Changbin absentmindedly opened the message, skimmed the words, and forgot how to breathe. A sudden, suffocating, warmth in the room crawled up his skin.

     Watch your back. You're going to pay.

     Get ready, Seo Changbin.

     His phone fell onto the floor. The next ten minutes were a blur. Changbin could vaguely hear his phone buzzing, multiple messages from Chan streaming in, probably asking where he was. But all he could do was stare up at the ceiling, his head burning, his fingers shaking. The last thing he could do was reach for his phone.

     It wasn't the text itself that was terrifying. It was the absolute certainty Changbin had that it wasn't a scam or prank. It was knowing, deep down, that there were too many loose ends in his life, and someone had finally grabbed hold of one, now ready to tighten the string around his neck. Changbin didn't know who this sender was, but he knew they were looking for him. And maybe, just maybe, they would succeed.

     Changbin didn't text Chan back that night. He didn't apologize or explain himself. He had a fitful sleep and simply went back to living the next day. Eventually, the ominous texts stopped coming.

     And now, years later, they were back. And they were leaving the confines of the messaging app.